Private First Class Banks was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 15 February 1951 and returned to duty 19 May 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 19 May 1951.

Banks was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.